First witness turns hostile in kidney racket case

A witness claimed in the CBI Special Court of Haryana in the infamous kidney racket case on Wednesday that he was beaten naked to extract statement against the accused in the case. Khalid Kamal, a native of Bareili of Uttar Pradesh, works as dialysis technician in Delhi.

He told the court that the statement which the CBI was showing was extracted from him by beating him after removing his clothes. He said that he was dictated to write it by CBI officials. He also broke down while telling the court that CBI officials threatened him that his wife would also be beaten like this if he did not budge to their demands. Kamal's statement was crucial for the case as it was indicting Dr Amit Kumar, Dr Upinder Kumar, Jeewan Kumar and Manoj Kumar.

CBI had claimed that Kamal had worked as dialysis technician with the accused between 1997-2001. It had also claimed that he was informed by the staff of the hospital that the accused were involved in the kidney sale and he had also overheard the discussions between them.

When he levelled allegations against the CBI, its counsel requested the court for declaring him hostile. After framing of charges Khalid Kamal is the first witness who has turned hostile.

Earlier also on July 15, 2011, Babu Ram, a labourer from Meerut, had told the CBI court, "One inspector (of CBI) assured me that in case I testify against the accused, I will get Rs 5 to Rs 7 lakh out of the attached property of the accused. I am poor and was tempted to testify against the accused." Ram used to sell his blood for money. CBI had claimed that he had sold his kidney to the accused.

A recipient of kidney, Rama Garg, had identified Dr Amit, Dr Upinder Kumar and Linda (nurse) in the court on March 19 this year. Rama is a housewife and resident of Delhi.

She said that these three people were present in the Palam Vihar-based hospital where kidney was transplanted. Her father Neeraj Garg, businessman by profession, also appeared as witness in the court on Monday and identified Dr Amit and Dr Upinder. He told the court that they bought the kidney at Rs 6 lakh from Dr Amit Kumar. There are 11 accused in the case.